Birmingham MP Jack Dromey and Merdien MP Dame Caroline Spelman have joined an attempt to force Prime Minister Theresa May to delay Brexit - if there is no deal.

They are working with Labour backbencher Yvette Cooper and Tory former minister Sir Oliver Letwin to propose legislation that could mean the UK fails to leave the EU on March 29, the date Brexit is due to take place.

The plan is to set the Prime Minister a deadline of March 13 to convince MPs to support a Brexit withdrawal agreement.

If she fails, then Mrs May would be forced to bring a motion to Parliament setting out what she plans to do next.

And she would have only two choices. One would be to delay Brexit.

Jack Dromey MP (Image: Birmingham Mail)

The second option available to Theresa May would be to say the UK should leave the EU with no deal.

But if she chose this option then MPs would hold a vote on her proposal. And if they voted to reject a no-deal Brexit, then the Prime Minister would be forced to delay leaving the EU whether she wants to or not.

The plan is set out in proposed legislation. If it becomes law then the Prime Minister would be legally obliged to do what it says.

Mr Dromey (Lab Erdington) and Dame Caroline (Con Meriden) said in a joint statement: "Leaving without a deal would threaten tens of thousands of jobs, including many in our constituencies.

"The people voted to leave the European Union and that referendum result must be honoured. However, as we leave, it is critical that jobs are protected and our economy safeguarded.

"We will continue to work cross-party as we move forward to agree a deal that takes us out of the EU whilst protecting Britain’s national interest.

MP Caroline Spelman.

"As work continues to agree a deal, Parliament must prevent a No Deal Brexit.

"We will therefore be signing the Cooper-Letwin Bill. The bill does not seek to block Brexit, but rather would ensure Parliament has the tools and capacity it needs to agree a deal that safeguards jobs and ensures the UK’s orderly departure from the EU."

They pointed out that MPs had already backed an amendment against a no-deal Brexit in a vote on January 29.

Ms Cooper said she would begin the process of introducing the legislation on February 26, if no deal has been agreed by then.

First of all she will ask the House of Commons to agree that time should be set aside to discuss her proposed law. If it agrees then MPs will hold debates and a series of votes that could bring it into effect.

There will also be a debate on Thursday February 14 when MPs could hold votes on how to solve the current impasse over Brexit. But it appears Ms Cooper and Sir Oliver have concluded it makes more sense to wait before they put forward their proposals.

Speaking in the House of Commons earlier, Mrs May urged MPs to "hold their nerve" and support her efforts to secure a withdrawal deal which will deliver Brexit on time.

In a statement updating the Commons on progress in talks, Mrs May acknowledged she would need "some time" to seek legally-binding changes from the EU to the controversial backstop for the Irish border.

Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement to MPs in the House of Commons (Image: PA)

She confirmed that she will table an amendable motion for debate on Thursday, seeking the House's continued support for her to demand "alternative arrangements" to keep the border open after Brexit.

And she pledged to return on February 26 with a further statement - triggering another debate and votes the following day - if she has not secured a deal by that date.

If a deal is agreed, MPs will have a second "meaningful vote", like the one in January which saw Mrs May's original plan rejected by a record-breaking 230 votes.

The February 27 votes are expected to come shortly after Mrs May's planned meeting with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, at which changes or additions to the Withdrawal Agreement could be agreed.